Construction of water-tight doors and the like



Sept. 21, 1965 E. w. OGLETHORPE ETAL 3,207,272

CONSTRUCTIQN OF WATER-TIGHT DOORS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 5, 1963 Sheets-Sheet 1 I E/ /m 5 wmw zw/ MK H Q m 2% m B a mw Q E a 1 E 6 k 2/ m E o 1 a A J MWQ DIN R W m a 8? 9 \Q QN 4 I n E 6 Q q Nq P 21, 1965 E. w. OGLETHORPE ETAL CONSTRUCTION OF WATER-TIGHT DOORS AND THE LIKE 2- Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 5, 1963 EM Og/efAo D AC/rani/er S w- Ayres United States Patent 3,207,272 CONSTRUCTION OF WATER-TIGHT DOORS AND THE LIKE Edward Watson Oglethorpe, Stanmore, Donald Avery Chantler, Pinner, and Ernest Horritt and Stanley William Ayres, Lydney, England, assignors to The Duramin Engineering Company Limited Filed Aug. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 299,832 2 Claims. (Cl. 189-46) This invention relates to the construction of watertight or weatherproof doors and the like (eg windows or hatches) and more particularly to the provision of sealing members which, by virtue of their shape, form an effective water-seal when combined in a door and frame structure against which the door is adapted to close.

The main object of the invention is the provision of shaped frame members for forming on the one hand a door frame and .on the other hand the edges of an associated door, such that the door frame and door edges combine to form a highly effective water seal and trap.

With this object in view the invention consists of sealing members for the surrounding edges of a door or the like and a surrounding frame structure against which the door or the like is adapted to close, the sealing members of the door or the like being adapted to co-operate with corresponding sealing members .of' the frame structure in reversed relationship to form a weatherproof seal, each of said sealing members comprising a first and a second parallel longitudinal sealing surface laterally displaced from each other, said sealing members being so shaped that when a sealing member of the door or the like cooperates with a sealing member of the frame structure, there is formed between said co-operating members a longitudinal internal duct or cavity and on opposite sides of said co-operating members and external groove or channel adjacent to the sealing surfaces. Although capable of wide application, the invention will now be described with reference to a sealed container of the kind carried as ships deck cargo and which inevitably is subject to heavy attack from sea water during high seas.

In the following description reference will be made to the drawings accompanying the provisional specification and in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a rear-end elevation of a container incorporating an embodiment of the invention,

FIGURE 2 shows a cross-section .of a frame member in accordance with the invention,

FIGURE 3 shows a cross-section of two members of the kind shown in FIGURE 2, said members being in sealing contact,

FIGURE 4 shows part of the section along the line IV-IV of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 5 shows part of the section along the line VV of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 6 shows a modification to part of FIGURE 5.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the invention is applicable to a container of the kind intended for transportation by lorry, railway truck or as deck cargo. Such a container has two vertically-hinged doors 10 and 11, one closing on the other, and a tailboard 12 against the upper edge of which both doors 10 and 11 close. The doors and tailboard also close against a frame structure 13 surrounding the container opening. In accordance with a feature of the invention, the frame structure 13 and edges of the doors and tailboard comprise framework sealing members having a section which is, at least in part, as shown in FIGURE 2. Thus, said members include a first flange 15 and a second flange 16 at right angles thereto, the first flange 15 having a raised land 17 along the outer edge of its inner surface forming a first sealing surface. Towards the outer edge of the inner surface .of the second flange 16 is an inwardly projecting rib 18 forming a groove 19 and carrying a further land 20 forming a second sealing surface. The groove 19 and the lands or sealing surfaces 17 and 20 extend the length of the member, and it will be valid that the sealing surfaces 17 and 20 are in different parallel planes parallel to the plane of the door but are laterally displaced from each .other. The remaining surfaces of the member are such that, when two such members are placed together in reversed relationship, they co-operate to form a seal structure having a section as shown in FIGURE 3.

It will be noted that the land 17 or first sealing surface of one member abuts and seals against the land or second sealing surface 20 of the other member and, also, the flange 15 of one member combines with the rib 18 of the other member to produce a deep groove or channel 19a, incorporating the associated groove 19, adjacent to the abutting sealing surfaces 17, 20 with one groove or channel on opposite sides of the door and frame members 15. Furthermore, the members form an internal duct or cavity 21 extending the co-incident length of the two members. It will be seen that the path between the two grooves or channels 19a is a tortuous one and lies through the two pairs of mutually-sealing surfaces or lands and across the duct or cavity 21. Furthermore, a sharp change of direction is involved in passing from a groove 19a between the adjacent pair of lands.

If, as indicated by broken lines, .one member is assumed to be part of the edge of a door frame 25 and the other member part of the edge of a door 26, it will be seen that the door member 26 is quite free to move in the direction of the arrow away from the door frame member 25. However, when the door is closed, water is effectively prevented from passing through the joint between door and door frame. Furthermore, if the seal between the first-encountered pair of lands or sealing surfaces is not fully effective, the cavity 21 will act as a trap and will serve as a duct along which water will flow to a suitable outlet. Such members can be incorporated in both the horizontal and the vertical joints between door and frame, the hinge pivots being spaced from the adjacent joint after the manner shown in FIGURE 1.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the grooves or channels 19a will form part of the outer surface of the container of FIGURE 1 and these are indicated around the framework 13 and along the joint between the doors and between the doors and tailboard.

The invention is not limited to the shape of member shown in FIGURE 2 and this member may be modified by adding further flanges or extensions. Such modified embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to sections through the container of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section, on the line 1V-IV of FIGURE 1. The top edge of the door frame structure 13 is formed by a member 30 consisting of the basic member shown in FIGURE 2 to which is added a flange 31 extending from the outer edge of the flange 16 and a flange 32 extending from the inner end of the flange 16. The flange 31 is as long as necessary to form the wall of the container above the doors. The flange 32 may serve to support an inner lining for the top of the container.

The top edge of the door 10 is formed by a member 40 which, in addition to the basic member, includes a flange 41 extending from the outer edge of the flange 16 and which serves to support the inner skin of the door panel. Also, the flange 15 forms part of the outer surface of the container. It will be observed that water entering the outer groove or channel 1% and seeping through the adjacent sealing surfaces or lands will drop into a gulley produced by the rib 18 and will not reach the inner sealing surfaces or lands. The bottom edge of the door is formed Of FIGURE 1.

.corner of the container.

3 by a further member 40, as are the top and bottom edges of the tail-board 12.

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal section on the line VV The side edge of the door frame structure 13 is formed by a member 50 having, in addition to the basic member, a flange 51 extending from the outer edge of the flange 16 and carrying a further flange 52 at right-angles thereto, The flange 51 is sufliciently deep to extend between the frame structure 13 and the side of the container and forms, with the flange 52, a vertical The member 50 also has a flange 53 extending from the inner edge of the flange 15 .for supporting a container lining or inner skin.

The inner, hinged, edge of the door is formed by a member 40, as is the outer edge of the door 11. The outer edge of the door 10 is formed by a member 60 against which the door 11 closes. Member 60 comprises the basic member of FIGURE 2, together with a flange 61 extending from the inner edge of flange 15 and serving to support the inner skin of the door. Also, a flange 62 much narrower than flange 61 extends from the outer edge of the flange 16 to support the outer skin of the door.

FIGURE 6 shows an alternative construction for the container corner of FIGURE 5, employing a member 70 which is similar to member 50 but without the flanges 52 and 53. Furthermore, the flange 71 is considerably wider than the flange 51.

It will be understood that the various members described not only serve as sealing members but are, in fact, main framework members of parts of the container structure. Such members are preferably light alloy extrusions.

The invention is not limited to application to doors and like hinged structures but may be applied to, for example, hatches or windows and the phrase door or the like must be understood as including such structures. Furthermore, the flanges of the basic member (e.g., flanges 15 and 16 of FIGURE 2) may be at angles other than a right-angle if desired, subject to corresponding modification of the angles of the sealing land or sealing surfaces.

We claim:

1. Sealing means for use between the adjacent edges of two sheet members which are aligned in edge to edge relationship with their adjacent edges parallel to but spaced from each other, said sealing means being adapted to permit at least one of said sheet members to be swung out of alignment with the other and comprising first and second all-metal sealing strips one fixed to each sheet member, each sealing strip comprising first and second flanges at right angles to each other, with the second flanges on said sealing strips forming the adjacent edges of the sheet members to which they are fixed, and the first flange of each sealing strip extending perpendicularly from the second flange thereof toward the second flange on the other sealing strip, with the first flange on the first sealing strip extending only part of the way to the second flange on the second sealing strip, so as to leave a gap therebetween, said first flanges being spaced from each other to define with said second flanges an air space which is essentially rectangular in section, the first flange on said first sealing strip being provided with a raised land on the surface thereof facing the other first flange and extending along the edge of the first flange on said first sealing strip nearest the second flange of the second sealing strip, while the second flange on the second sealing strip is provided with a rib which extends outwardly toward the second flange on the first sealing strip and then turns toward the first flange of said first sealing strip to terminate in a sealing surface which sealingly contacts said land when said two sheet members are brought into alignment with one edge of said sealing surface registering with the edge of the flange carrying the land which it contacts, said rib defining with the flange which carries it and with the land-carrying edge of the other flange, a groove extending from the gap between said last mentioned flange edge and the flange carrying said rib, in a direction parallel to said sheet member edges, past the point at which said rib contacts said land.

2. Sealing means for use between the adjacent edges of two sheet members which are aligned in edge to edge relationship with their adjacent edges parallel to but spaced from each other, said sealing means being adapted to permit at least one of said sheet members to be swung out of alignment with the other and comprising first and second all-metal sealing strips which are identical in crosssection, one fixed to each sheet member, each sealing strip comprising first and second flanges at right angles to each other, with the second flanges on said sealing strips forming the adjacent edges of the sheet members to which they are fixed, and the first flange of each sealing strip extending perpendicularly from the second flange thereof part way toward the second flange on the other sealing strip, so as to leave a gap between the second flange on each sealing strip and the first flange on the other strip, said first flanges being spaced from each other to define with said second flanges an air space which is essentially rectangular in section, each of said first flanges being provided with a raised land on the surface thereof facing the other first flange and extending along the edge of each said first flange nearest the second flange of the other sealing strip, while the second flange of each sealing strip is provided with a rib which extends outwardly toward the second flange of the other sealing strip and then turns toward the first flange of said other sealing strip to terminate in a sealing surface which sealingly contacts the land on said first flange of said other sealing strip when said two sheet members are brought into alignment with one edge of said sealing surface registering with the edge of the flange carrying the land which it contacts, each rib defining with the flange which carries it and with the land-carrying edge of the other flange, a groove extending from the gap between said last mentioned flange edge and the flange carrying said last mentioned rib, in a direction parallel to said sheet member edges, past the point at which said last mentioned rib contacts said last mentioned land.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,163,891 1/65 Seliger 20-53 FOREIGN PATENTS 525,392 1/54 Belgium. 748,142 4/ 33 France. 486,651 6/38 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES Adlake Aluminum Windows (1956), by the Adams & Westlake Co., Elkhart, Indiana.

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner,

REINALDO P. MACI-IADO, HARRISON R. MOSE- LEY, Examiners. 

1. SEALING MEANS FOR USE BETWEEN THE ADJACENT EDGES OF TWO SHEET MEMBERS WHICH ARE ALIGNED IN EDGE TO EDGE RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR ADJACENT EDGES PARALLEL TO BUT SPACED FROM EACH OTHER, SAID SEALING MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO PERMIT AT LEAST ONE OF SAID SHEET MEMBERS TO BE SWUNG OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH THE OTHER AND COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND ALL-METAL SEALING STRIPS ONE FIXED TO EACH SHEET MEMBER, EACH SEALING STRIP COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND FLANGES AT RIGHT ANGLES TO EACH OTHER, WITH THE SECOND FLANGES ON SAID SEALING STRIPS FORMING THE ADJACENT EDGES OF THE SHEET MEMBERS TO WHICH THEY ARE FIXED, AND THE FIRST FLANGE OF EACH SEALING STRIP EXTENDING PERPENDICULARLY FROM THE SECOND FLANGE THEREOF TOWARD THE SECOND FLANGE ON THE OTHER SEALING STRIP, WITH THE FIRST FLANGE ON THE FIRST SEALING STRIP EXTENDING ONLY PART OF THE WAY TO THE SECOND FLANGE ON THE SECOND SEALING STRIP, SO AS TO LEAVE A GAP THEREBETWEEN, SAID FIRST FLANGES BEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHER TO DEFINE WITH SAID SECOND FLANGES AN AIR SPACE WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY RECTANGULAR IN SECTION, THE FIRST FLANGE ON SAID FIRST SEALING STRIP BEING PROVIDED WITH A RAISED LAND ON THE SURFACE THEREOF FACING THE OTHER FIRST FLANGE AND EXTENDING ALONG THE EDGE OF THE FIRST FLANGE ON SAID FIRST SEALING STRIP NEAREST THE SECOND FLANGE OF THE SECOND SEALING STRIP, WHILE THE SECOND FLANGE ON THE SECOND SEALING STRIP IS PROVIDED WITN A RIB WHICH EXTENDS OUTWARDLY TOWARD THE SECOND FLANGE ON THE FIRST SEALING STRIP AND THEN TURNS TOWARD THE FIRST FLANGE OF SAID FIRST SEALING STRIP TO TERMINATE IN A SEALING SURFACE WHICH SEALINGLY CONTACTS SAID LAND WHEN SAID TWO SHEET MEMBERS ARE BROUGHT INTO ALIGNMENT WITH ONE EDGE OF SAID SEALING SURFACE REGISTERING WITH THE EDGE OF THE FLANGE CARRYING THE LAND WHICH IT CONTACTS, SAID RIB DEFINING WITH THE FLANGE WHICH CARRIES IT AND WITH THE LAND-CARRYING EDGE OF THE OTHER FLANGE, A GROOVE EXTENDING FROM THE GAP BETWEEN SAID LAST MENTIONED FLANGE EDGE AND THE FLANGE CARRYING SAID RIB, IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO SAID SHEET MEMBER EDGES, PAST THE POINT AT WHICH SAID RIB CONTACTS SAID LAND. 